In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized a massive haul of illegal drugs valued at over N17.9 billion in coordinated operations at the Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, Rivers State, and Tincan Seaport in Lagos. The seized drugs include over 31 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 1.28 million bottles of codeine-based syrup.
The operations, conducted between August 26th and August 31st, 2024, were the result of intelligence gathered by the NDLEA on shipments originating from India. This intelligence led to the agency demanding a 100% joint examination of the containers in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service and other security agencies.
Massive Drug Seizures at Ports
At the Tincan Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, on August 29th and 30th, intercepted two containers holding 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup, each container containing 175,000 bottles. Simultaneously, at the Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, NDLEA officers on August 29th seized 447 cartons of tramadol 225mg, amounting to 29.84 million pills, along with 380,000 bottles of codeine syrup from three containers. These tramadol shipments were found under various brand names, including Royal Tapentadol, Carisoprodol 225mg, and Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg.
On August 30th, another three containers at the Onne Port, which were flagged by NDLEA, were examined, leading to the discovery of 3,030 cartons of codeine syrup containing 554,600 bottles. The total street value of the tramadol and codeine seized at the ports in Lagos and Rivers State stands at N8.94 billion and N8.99 billion respectively.
Nationwide Arrests and Seizures
In a similar development the agency made significant arrests across the country. On August 27th, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, a suspect named Eze Emekan Don was arrested while attempting to board a flight to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. He was found with 1,490 pills of tramadol disguised as cosmetics. Despite attempts to bribe the officers, his arrest was secured.
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On August 26th, in Niger State, NDLEA officers apprehended a suspect named Friday Gabriel on the Minna-Suleja road with 1,900 capsules of tramadol, 300 bottles of codeine syrup, and 600 packets of exol-5 tablets. Additionally, on August 31st, in Bauchi State, two suspects, Garba Muhammed, 35, and Usman Yakubu Shehu, 31, were arrested on the Bauchi-Gombe road while transporting 308 blocks of cannabis weighing 246.4 kg, concealed in a false compartment of a J5 bus with Edo State registration number URM 38 ZY.
War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Initiatives
Beyond these operations, the NDLEA has continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiatives, conducting sensitization campaigns across various states. These efforts include lectures and advocacy visits to communities, schools, and workplaces, aiming to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Key activities included a WADA lecture in Amankwu community, Ohafia LGA, Abia State; an advocacy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Delta, Professor Stella Chiemeka in Agbor, Delta State; and sensitization programs in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, and Kaduna States.
Leadership Commendation
Reacting to these successes, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Mohamed Buba Marwa, lauded the professionalism and dedication of the officers involved in these operations. “The vigilance and unwavering commitment of our officers at the Port Harcourt and Tincan ports, as well as the Special Operations Unit, have been instrumental in these major seizures,” Marwa said. He also acknowledged the crucial support from other stakeholders at the ports that facilitated the smooth execution of these operations.
Marwa further commended the efforts of NDLEA operatives in Lagos, Niger, Bauchi, and across the country for their relentless pursuit of both drug supply reduction and demand reduction strategies. “Our collective efforts are a testament to our resolve in combating drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria,” he concluded.